A biased look at psychology in the world

September 28, 2010

Mental Illness in the Developing World

Two years after launching the Mental Health Gap Action program
to highlight the treatment needs of people suffering from psychiatric,
neurological and substance abuse disorders, the World Health
Organization (WHO) reports that, worldwide, over 80 per cent of people in need have no
access to psychological or psychiatric treatment. In many developing
societies, people with disorders such as epilepsy, depression, and
psychosis face tremendous stigma and are often deprived of the family
and community support necessary for successful integration into society.
The resulting neglect and abuse that mental patients face often leads to
a worsening of their condition and tremendous human rights violations. Due to their marginal status, many countries forbid mental patients from marrying, holding jobs, or even voting.

In Africa alone, nine out of ten epileptics do not receive
anti-convulsant medication to control seizures despite the relatively
low cost per dose. Similar findings are noted for people suffering from
schizophrenia and depression. In the majority of Third World
countries, only 2 per cent of health care dollars are allocated to
mental health treatment with charities often being forced to raise funds
to cover the shortfall. The lack of proper support is linked to negative attitudes towards mental illness which is often not regarded as a "real disease" (and often viewed as being due to lack of character or a punishment for immoral behaviour). Factors such as poverty and social unrest can worsen existing psychiatric conditions

In humanitarian crises, including natural disasters or pandemics,
survivors often deal with long-term trauma that is rarely addressed
by proper treatment. Refugees are also particularly vulnerable to mental illness due to the lack of a stable support network and uncertain living conditions. Combating emotional and psychiatric problems in the developing world is exacerbated by a critical shortage of mental health professionals. According to WHO statistics, the global psychiatrist rate varies from 0.4 psychiatrists per 100,000 people in parts of Africa to 9.8 per 100,000 in Europe. Some countries have no psychiatrists, psychologists, or social workers at all and psychiatric care is usually left to primary care physicians and workers with limited treatment experience. As a result, relatives of mental patients often resort to traditional medicine or religious practitioners (including exorcists) for treatment.

In her speech launching the Mental Health Gap Program, WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan said that "The Mental Health Gap Action Programme gives WHO and its partners an
opportunity to speak out against the neglect of these disorders with a
unified and convincing voice. As I said, there is work to be done, and
the voice of outcry may need to be rather shrill. But there are no
excuses left. Together, we must make the case". Despite intense efforts by the WHO and aid organizations, progress remains slow.

The petition is calling upon the UN to urgently act by priortising a World Health Organisation Report and Action Plan and taking immediate steps to help those people and their families with mental health illnesses and human rights abuse issues in the developing countries of the world!

The petition was instigated and developed in partnership by two grass roots facebook groups. As well as collecting the signatures it needs (100,000) to formally trigger its formally presentation to the UN, it is also being used as a educational resource as to the situation of the needs of mental health provision and human rights protection in the developing world.
The petition also allows for the signee to make a personal comment to the UN as to the mental health situation.

Since its launch in the middle of June this year the petition has been signed by 1,326 people from around the world. Any help in getting it circulated to the attention of any interested parties would be appreciated!